The second volume of Japanese: The Written Language guides high-beginning learners toward proficiency in reading and composing Japanese in realistic contexts. Building on the katakana syllabary presented in Volume 1, it introduces the hiragana syllabary and 100 kanji as well as reading and writing strategies. The main text includes drills and exercises set in realistic sociocultural contexts. Companion audio files are accessible online and a workbook is available separately.

Eleanor Harz Jorden (1920–2009) was the Mary Donlon Alger Professor of Linguistics, Emerita, Cornell University. Mari Noda is professor of Japanese at Ohio State University. Masayuki Itomitsu is associate professor of Japanese at Linfield College. Ginger Marcus is professor of the practice of Japanese language at Washington University in St. Louis.

“Japanese: The Written Language provides an impressive array of purposeful, socially meaningful reading and writing activities that enable learners to use Japanese in personal and professional settings. This text fosters awareness of Japanese communicative behavior.”—Teppei Kiyosue, Ohio State University

“The authors considered all aspects of teaching and learning the written Japanese language. Throughout the textbook and workbook, one sees their solid philosophy of reading and writing.”—Sachiko Howard, University of Pittsburgh